HENDERSON, Nev. – Behind 14 hits and 13 runs, the Utah Valley University softball team recorded its first victory of the 2016 season with a 13-5 run-rule victory over South Dakota on Saturday evening at the Sportco Kick Off Classic in Henderson, Nevada. The win over USD came following a 14-6 six-inning setback to Lamar earlier on the day.
 
Leadoff hitter Haley Harrison led the way for the Wolverines (1-3) in the victory over the Coyotes (0-3), as she went a perfect 4-for-4 with three runs batted in and a pair of runs scored. Morgan Smith and Taleigh Williams were next by each recording two hits apiece, while Kristy Snyder and Brittney Vansway both added home runs for the Wolverines in the ballgame.
 
"This is an important win for us. It was nice to see the bats come alive," head coach Nikki Palmer said. "It was a great team win as everybody worked together and played an important part in this one."
 
Trailing 2-0 in the third inning against South Dakota, UVU got something going following back-to-back hits from Harrison and Smith. With two on and one out, the designated player Snyder delivered a go-ahead three-run home run to left-centerfield. Vansway then immediately followed with a solo shot of her own to right-center to give the Wolverines a 4-2 lead. The offensive outburst continued for UVU in the inning, as it continued with five more runs to extend its advantage to 9-2. Tiani Hensley, Dana De La Torre and Harrison all also drove in runs in the nine-run third.
 
After USD struck back with a two-run top of the fourth, De La Torre and Harrison answered for the Wolverines by combining to plate three more runs in the bottom half of the frame to extend UVU's advantage to 12-4. The Yotes then momentarily extended the game in the top of the fifth thanks to a two-out home run from Katie Cochran, but UVU quickly loaded the bases in the last of the fifth and put the game away on a walk-off run-rule walk by pinch hitter Jaymee Lawton.
 
In all, nine different Wolverines recorded hits for UVU in the win over USD and six for extra bases.
 
In the opening game of the day against the Cardinals (2-2), Lamar struck first with a trio of runs in the last of the first. After the Wolverines answered with a run of their own in the top of the second, LU managed to piece together an eight-run second to take a sizable 11-1 advantage.
 
With Lamar later holding to a 12-2 lead in the top of the fifth, Utah Valley managed to plate four runs to extend the game. Williams started the rally with a solo home run to center, while Breezy Roth and Hensley later followed with RBI knocks to cut the deficit in half, at 12-6.
 
The Cardinals then managed to get a run back in the last of the fifth and another in the sixth to put the game away via the run-rule.
 
Despite suffering the loss to LU, Hensley and Snyder each recorded two hits apiece for the Wolverines in the ballgame. Hensley tallied a pair of doubles and an RBI and a run scored, while Snyder added a double and a run scored of her own. 
 
The Wolverines will conclude play at the Sportco Kick Off Classic by taking on the host UNLV Rebels on Sunday at 4:45 p.m. MT/3:45 p.m. PT at UNLV's Eller Media Stadium. Following Sunday's tournament finale, UVU will return to the road next weekend, Feb. 19-21, at the Mary Nutter Classic in Cathedral City, California.